Morrissey signed to Harvest (Capitol); to record in France with producer Joe Chiccarelli

UPDATE 10:50 AM PT:

Link posted by Uncleskinny:

Morrissey has signed a two-album deal with Capitol Music in Los Angeles, and is set to record a new album in France starting on February 1st - true-to-you.net
15 January 2014

Morrissey has signed a two-album deal with Capitol Music in Los Angeles. He is set to record a new album in France starting on February 1st. Producer is Joe Chiccarelli, and musicians are Boz Boorer (guitar), Jesse Tobias (guitar), Gustavo Manzur (piano), Solomon Walker (bass guitar) and Matt Walker (drums). This will be Morrissey's first album since Years Of Refusal, which was recorded in 2008. Morrissey has been signed by Steve Barnett at Capitol Music.

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Posted by mozzalini999 (original post):

Twitter alive with reports of a new deal. Check this out:

MORRISSEY SIGNS WORLDWIDE RECORDING AGREEMENT WITH HARVEST RECORDS - PR Newswire
Globally-Acclaimed And Highly Influential Recording & Performing Artist To Record First New Album In Five Years For Release Later In 2014

Excerpt:

HOLLYWOOD, Calif., Jan. 15, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Harvest Records has signed globally-renowned artist Morrissey to a worldwide recording agreement, it was announced today by the label's General Managers Piero Giramonti and Jacqueline Saturn. Morrissey's first album under the deal will be released in the second half of this year.

Morrissey stated that he is "thrilled" with the agreement, and will commence recording of his new album – the artist's first since 2009's Years Of Refusal – later this month in France with producer Joe Chiccarelli. Joining Morrissey in France will be his longtime recording and touring band, including Boz Boorer (guitar), Jesse Tobias (guitar), Solomon Walker (bass), Matthew Walker (drums) and Gustavo Manzur (keyboards). Tour dates for 2014 will be announced soon.

According to Capitol Music Group Chairman and CEO Steve Barnett, "Morrissey is clearly one of music's most important and influential artists. He is the rare soul who has stayed consistently true to his artistic vision and ethical principles since he first exploded onto the scene in the 1980s. We are so happy that he has chosen Capitol Music Group as his home and that his forthcoming album on Harvest will bring new Morrissey music to the world."

CMG Executive Vice President Michelle Jubelirer added, "Morrissey is a truly singular artist whose music and live performances first captured a worldwide audience thirty years ago and never let go. He is uncompromising in his integrity, extremely devoted to his fans and an artist with a unique and needed voice in our culture. It's so great that Morrissey is with CMG, and, more important, that he is about to record his first new album in five years."

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Link and translation via Google Translate posted by Intl_Playboy / Twitter:

Morrissey, il prossimo album uscirà per la nuova Harvest - Rockol

Google Translate to English, excerpt:

January 15, 2014
Ended the relationship with Decca, Morrissey remains linked to the major label Universal Music under a new record deal signed with the Harvest (Capitol group). This was announced by the general manager of the label, Piero Giramonti and Jacqueline Saturn, anticipating that the artist Manchester will begin recording a new album this month in France along with the musicians who work with him for some time and the producer Joe Chiccarelli.

"Morrissey is one of the most important and influential artists in the music scene," said the number one Capitol Music Group Steve Barnett. "It 's also one of the few to have remained substantially true to his artistic vision and his ethical principles since he exploded onto the scene in the '80s." For its part, "Moz" had words of appreciation for the Harvest, the historic brand created in the 70s by which they recorded for EMI Pink Floyd and Deep Purple and that Universal has recently relaunched and mean to make it a sort of indie arm inside the majors.

 

[Stoned]

Just cant wait to see the sleeve ....I know it is too early but......Like Quarry did 10 years ago , this brand new studio album will put him up there again. Sure about that!!

Cheers Moz

 

[Mozmanc]

'People' and 'Kid's a looker' are the duff ones for me but 'Action and' the jewel in the crown 'Art Hounds' will be worth it. I didn't like 'Years of Refusal', 'Ring Leader' has a place in my heart because it had a European feel to it, I thought it was different and a more challenging listen than the 'Quarry' although 'Quarry' has grown on me now.

i can go along with this

art hounds and action could be very solid album tracks but the other two - meh hopefully b-side status

i'm sure moz will keep us guessing whatever happens

he said he doesn't feel any pressure when making an album etc however i'm sure he listened with interest to bowie's latest effort 'The Next Day' <<<<< if moz has still got anything about him he should already know the benchmark has been set...

good call on the label and producer for this album... so far so good

*waits for tour dates to drop on TTY*

 

[Girlmostlikely]

Pretty sure Morrissey said in an interview that Action, People and Kid's A Looker won't appear on albums, that's why they were released as session b-sides.

Not sure what will become of Scandinavia or Art-Hounds, though. The former might be a b-side and the latter on the album proper. That being the case, it will be 90% new material.

He had said that "Action", "People", "Kids a looker" would be properly recorded in a studio once he got a record contract. I do hope he puts them as b-sides, however. I do quite like "Action" but it seems so old now and it was, along with"People" included on "25:Live" and released as studio session b-sides so it's not just the core fans who would think so.

- - - Updated - - -

Just cant wait to see the sleeve ....I know it is too early but......Like Quarry did 10 years ago , this brand new studio album will put him up there again. Sure about that!!

Cheers Moz

I am very much hoping this is true

 

[CrystalGeezer]

Valentine's Day is the 14th.

I'm pretty sure it takes more than a day or two weeks to make an album.

 

[suedeheadann]

Brilliant news. Something to look forward to

 

[Harsh Truth]

Personally, I feel "Action" needs a proper recording and placement on a real album. The rest of 'em..... B-Sides at best. Maybe "Art Hounds" will be a gem.. I dunno. Honestly I haven't listened to it in 2+ years.

Let's not forget that "All You Need is Me" and "That's How People Grow Up" were both officially released (and played live to death) ages prior to "Years of Refusal" but that didn't stop them from making the album, while a song like "My Dearest Love" was left for a B-Side. (That said, I've always thought My Dearest Love sounds unfinished. Like it was 80% of the way done and they ran out of studio time. It could have been a classic with maybe another verse and without the long cop-out fade out.)

I've been listening to "Ringleader" recently for the first time in awhile. It's pretty good. A couple duffs, yes, but even songs that I officially swore off of by 2009 ("I Just Want to See the Boy Happy"; "In the Future When All is Well") sound pretty good after a long break. I will say that the production on that album is total crap though. Visconti should be offering a refund. The singles sound slightly better in their remastered form on the crap "Greatest Hits" compilation.

My favorite songs on Years of Refusal are the bookends: "Something is Squeezing My Skull" and "I'm OK By Myself". I'm probably in the minority.

 

[Orson Swells]

Well, well, well. A two-year deal with a great label and an interesting producer on board too. Hopefully, as the others have already been smuggled out as b-sides, only Art-Hounds and Scandinavia will make the final cut, though I could live with a spectacularly good new version of Action...

he said he doesn't feel any pressure when making an album etc however i'm sure he listened with interest to bowie's latest effort 'The Next Day' <<<<< if moz has still got anything about him he should already know the benchmark has been set...

I also wondered whether the Bowie album might influence him in some way. And if he'll pen a reply to You Feel So Lonely You Could Die which seemed somewhat aimed in his direction.

 

[Harsh Truth]

Just looking back at the official releases from the 2008/2009 period on PJLM. Not a lot of true B-Sides, are there? Lots of random live material, plus "Shame is the Name" and "My Dearest Love."

 

[TheBoyWithTheDragonTattoo]

Personally, I feel "Action" needs a proper recording and placement on a real album. The rest of 'em..... B-Sides at best. Maybe "Art Hounds" will be a gem.. I dunno. Honestly I haven't listened to it in 2+ years.

Let's not forget that "All You Need is Me" and "That's How People Grow Up" were both officially released (and played live to death) ages prior to "Years of Refusal" but that didn't stop them from making the album, while a song like "My Dearest Love" was left for a B-Side. (That said, I've always thought My Dearest Love sounds unfinished. Like it was 80% of the way done and they ran out of studio time. It could have been a classic with maybe another verse and without the long cop-out fade out.)

I've been listening to "Ringleader" recently for the first time in awhile. It's pretty good. A couple duffs, yes, but even songs that I officially swore off of by 2009 ("I Just Want to See the Boy Happy"; "In the Future When All is Well") sound pretty good after a long break. I will say that the production on that album is total crap though. Visconti should be offering a refund. The singles sound slightly better in their remastered form on the crap "Greatest Hits" compilation.

My favorite songs on Years of Refusal are the bookends: "Something is Squeezing My Skull" and "I'm OK By Myself". I'm probably in the minority.

I agree whole heartedly. Both are great songs and Moz's voice was in top form on both tracks with an energy rarely translated from his live shows to actual recordings. Not sure why the album in general was poo-pooed so badly by so many fans. I thought it was a good balance of tried-and-true with just enough experimentation thrown in to keep it interesting without alienating longtime fans.

 

[Anonymous]

art-hounds must be in the next album, the other, scandinavia, people, the kid's and action must be forgotten, now the next album will have a french touch, great, from Years of refusal, only you were good in your time was shit, the music, the lyrics are OK, the real problem is the band, the music not the lyrics

 

[grant gauld]

this is amazing news,the king is back,long live the king.

 

[Anonymous]

I don't know why people get bogged down in these 'good album/bad album' debates. Every Morrissey album to date has been a combination of good songs, okay ones and crap ones - with the odd brilliant song along the way. And I expect the next two will follow suit.

I agree with this completely; music is subjective and we will never come to the same conclusions about what are his best or worst compositions. In my opinion, every record has had moments of brilliance, admittedly some more than others. I just hope that Morrissey realizes the importance of this next release; this is an opportunity to solidify his legacy. He needs to scrutunize his own work as brutally and honestly as he would anyone else's work. One of the challenges that Morrissey faces is that he set the bar so high for himself right from the opening lines of the first Smiths record; the expectations for his work are substantially higher, and hence, the disappointment is greater when he delivers something that might be considered great for another artist but only lackluster for him. My fingers are crossed for a record that has the elements that make Morrissey music magical: the intricate story-telling, the clever word play, the vivid imagery, and an emotional impact that makes you feel like someone has just punched you in the throat. I would also love to see a return to the iconic album cover imagery. I still admire his work immensely, and I am hoping for the best.

lynnda

 

[Jamie]

Just looking back at the official releases from the 2008/2009 period on PJLM. Not a lot of true B-Sides, are there? Lots of random live material, plus "Shame is the Name" and "My Dearest Love."

Someone with a big nose who knows informed me that he had spoken to Jesse after a show c. 2009-2011 and that the additional tracks with Whyte co-writes (I'm Looking Forward To Going Back, When I Was Young, I Was Bully, Do Not Forget Me) were left unfinished because Jerry Finn fell ill before they completed tracking/mixing. I suppose, as has been Morrissey's tendency in the past, when a track is not completed at the time of the sessions (e.g., Fantastic Bird, Home Is a Question Mark, I'm Just Playing Easy To Get, Action Man), he seems to move on from them. In the case of the incomplete Years of Refusal tracks, I imagine the death of Finn cast a pall over those tracks and they were artistic collateral damage as a result - or irrelevant to him when he began to write new material again.

 

[Anonymous]

I agree with this completely; music is subjective and we will never come to the same conclusions about what are his best or worst compositions. In my opinion, every record has had moments of brilliance, admittedly some more than others. I just hope that Morrissey realizes the importance of this next release; this is an opportunity to solidify his legacy. He needs to scrutunize his own work as brutally and honestly as he would anyone else's work. One of the challenges that Morrissey faces is that he set the bar so high for himself right from the opening lines of the first Smiths record; the expectations for his work are substantially higher, and hence, the disappointment is greater when he delivers something that might be considered great for another artist but only lackluster for him. My fingers are crossed for a record that has the elements that make Morrissey music magical: the intricate story-telling, the clever word play, the vivid imagery, and an emotional impact that makes you feel like someone has just punched you in the throat. I would also love to see a return to the iconic album cover imagery. I still admire his work immensely, and I am hoping for the best.

lynnda

Your posts are thoughtful insights into your being and are greatly (and gratefully) enjoyed. xx

 

[Deleted member 1074]

Action Is My Middle Name
The Kid's A Looker
People Are The Same Everywhere
Art-hounds
Scandinavia
Istanbul

There is half the new album already.

Anyone else find it funny that despite having signed for four different record labels, they're now all owned by the same people?

Sorry in advance for being a complete dick, but this isn't true. Decca, HMV and RCA are owned by Universal, but Sanctuary is owned by Bertlesmann and Parlophone is owned by Warners. Which makes five labels.

Island Records, who released 'Maladjusted', are owned by Universal Music Group. Sanctuary, who released 'You Are the Quarry' & 'Ringleader of the Tormentors', were bought by Universal Music Group. Morrissey then "signed" with Decca, also owned by Universal Music Group, and released 'Years of Refusal'. Morrissey has now signed to release his next two albums with Harvest/Capitol Records who are owned by Universal Music Group.

Please, have an understanding of what you're talking about before you decide to post.

Blimey, how come Scandinavia's getting such a bashing?
Not a great song but nowhere near as duff as 'People' or 'Kid's a looker'.

Just because it isn't as bad, doesn't mean it isn't bad.

If he's truly been writing and demoing for five years, and he only picks the best 10 or 12 songs from that stuff, then I think it's safe to say we have nothing to fear. Well, almost.

You know he hasn't and he won't. He wrote some songs and has simply been sitting on them for 5 years.

well in that case it'll be the first Morrissey record with no Alain Whyte songs since any Morrissey record he's ever done. Thanks genius

- marred.

That doesn't even make sense. Derp.

Just cant wait to see the sleeve ....I know it is too early but......Like Quarry did 10 years ago , this brand new studio album will put him up there again. Sure about that!!

Cheers Moz

It really won't. The album sales won't even be anything near 'Ringleader'. He blew his second chance already. He doesn't get a third one.
Though he does stand a better chance of a number one record now with the way the charts are...which is all that really matters to him in the end.

 

[DVWMC]

A 2 album deal? Wow. He can't have Aids then.

 

[Stanley the 2nd]

I hope the new songs that have been played live end up as b-sides and we get an album of fresh material. Good news that there will be an album but not so good if the new songs that have been played live are a yard stick of what's to come.

Back in 2002 I felt more optimistic as new songs in the live set such as first of the gang and irish blood gave the impression that a decent album was on the horizon. Time will tell.

 

[evennow]

Years of Refusal was unlistenable.

Quite agree Playcat. I thought YATQ was a strong, bold comeback album with a song like Camden that moved me more than almost any of his older material....then ROTT...on which I like the first four songs...then skip to Pigsty...then YOR that had one listen and was conveniently misplaced.

(IMHO) The trajectory of his recent material has been on a downward slant. Hopefully, he has a few more good songs in him, but the days of a great album, I fear, are in the past. Fingers crossed as always. One thing for sure is that there will be quite the debate once they are released.

 

[Anonymous]

I agree with this completely; music is subjective and we will never come to the same conclusions about what are his best or worst compositions. In my opinion, every record has had moments of brilliance, admittedly some more than others. I just hope that Morrissey realizes the importance of this next release; this is an opportunity to solidify his legacy. He needs to scrutunize his own work as brutally and honestly as he would anyone else's work. One of the challenges that Morrissey faces is that he set the bar so high for himself right from the opening lines of the first Smiths record; the expectations for his work are substantially higher, and hence, the disappointment is greater when he delivers something that might be considered great for another artist but only lackluster for him. My fingers are crossed for a record that has the elements that make Morrissey music magical: the intricate story-telling, the clever word play, the vivid imagery, and an emotional impact that makes you feel like someone has just punched you in the throat. I would also love to see a return to the iconic album cover imagery. I still admire his work immensely, and I am hoping for the best.

lynnda

the intricate story-telling, the clever word play, the vivid imagery, and an emotional impact that makes you feel like someone has just punched you in the throat. I would also love to see a return to the iconic album cover imagery. I still admire his work immensely, and I am hoping for the best.

All these are fine but what about the guitars, the sound they make and all the many talented people out there who play and create really decent sounds ?
The Boz man has run his course. If I was Morrissey I would be on the phone to Poison Ivy (The Cramps) and see if she would pick up the axe again (R I P Lux)
Can you imagine what kind of album that would be like ? That would really blow the cobwebs away from all the latest crap 4 chord predictable rubbish.

Does anyone have any other collaborators they would like to see on board ? Lets have a list going. No 1 POISON IVY (Benny-t-B)



Benny-the-Butcher

 

[Anonymous]

Well, well, well. A two-year deal with a great label and an interesting producer on board too. Hopefully, as the others have already been smuggled out as b-sides, only Art-Hounds and Scandinavia will make the final cut, though I could live with a spectacularly good new version of Action...
.

He's obviously seen the light regarding 'Kid's a Looker' but it's just wishful thinking that he'd ditch all the others.
Incredibly, bafflingly, belief-defyingly, he things 'People' is a genius song - at best it's a plodding, gormless, disappointing b-side to a rubbish single. He had 250 songs to choose from at Nobel, and he chose to sing this. If it really is one of the strongest songs he's written in the new batch, we're gonna get his worst ever album.